Ill admit im a novice, but I get the feeling that the people who dislike it are the same people who will tell a person to buy a nikon over a canon, or an Apple over a PC (its not that i hate apple, I just think the users are inhuman monsters), I have found the layouts make so much more sense than anything else I've been on. Since I've seen these, it seems as though most sail boat layouts were designed by people who enjoy living in a dog kennels by comparison.
Im no sailor however I have completed basic courses,,my only experience is on this 38,,its rookie proof as advertised. 2 weekends of classes with maybe 4 hours of sailing experience and this boat is a dream for the chesapeak bay
To anyone looking at this or any other boat: Make sure you assess a boat based on what it is intended to do. Coastal cruiser or blue water passagemaker? High end semi-custom quality, or mass production? These are big differences. Do your own research, and be wary of opinions on the internet - including ours! If you really want to know about a particular boat talk to people that own or sail that specific boat. Other than conducting your own test sail, that's your best source of information.
It would likely be the last choice on my list for a blue water crossing. While I haven't sailed the 38, I have sailed the 33 and 36. It's a very pretty looking boat, both inside and out. That certainly doesn't mean it sails well though... Easy for solo sailing. However, try to sail this thing in a strong wind on upwind tack, or very close haul, and you'll quickly see why many don't care for this boat. It's like a brick with a sail attached, and a toothpick for a rudder!
@PatrickBrass Whether you like or dislike Hunters, the 38 is a very popular model for coastal cruisers who are looking for a comfortable boat with good performance. To say it's like a brick with a sail/toothpick rudder shows you are uninformed. Glen Henderson-designed hulls have very good performance characteristics and employ balanced spade rudders. John Kretschmer was quite impressed with the 38's sailing ability. His informed and experienced opinion matters much more.
I think if you actually sailed this boat, your opinion might actually be closer to mine than Kretschmer's. Has he ever given less than a positive review on any boat? While I'm not a professional boat reviewer, or sailor for that matter, it has been a hobby of mine for the better part of the last 33 years. I currently belong to a west coast sailing club, and have logged over 1000 miles in the last 1.5 years in '08/9 Hunter 33 &36 in good AND bad weather.
Your credentials are impressive. However, I HAVE sailed the boat, and for what it is designed to do it does it very well. It is a coastal cruiser with spacious accommodations, built to a price point. It is not, for example, a Valiant. So why you brought up crossing an ocean in one does not make sense. And though John Kretschmer is a professional sailor (with more than 250,000 documented miles at sea), his opinions were developed on the spot while actually sailing the boat.
Hey everyone. ive been recently considering purchasing a sailboat and ive herd mixed reviews. a lot of people are saying Hunter 50s are not good for open water, does anyone care to enlighten me on some facts why? it seems to be a really nice boat and for a good price with some great features like the in mast sail, something that i really like and seems easy to single hand, another plus. im mostly looking for a cruzer boat but would like it to be able to sail around the world if i so choose. help
You will receive a HUGE range of reactions with this question. I've been in the industry for many years, and Hunter evokes more negatitvity than any other builder, but at the same time sells more sailboats than anyone. To answer your question directly, I know a man (semi-paraplegic) that singlehanded his Hunter 49 around the world. He'll tell you the boat was wonderful. Ask the next person, and they will tell you they'd never venture out of the bay on one... My advice? Ask Hunter 50 owners.
People question the rigging of hunter due the lack of a back stay. I sail on the great lakes. i have sailed on the hunter 38. Lets say i am addicted. Hunter are good boats. but tartans sabre are way better
I answered DOC's questions in a message reply, but thought I'd post the general theme here as well. Comparing Hunter to Tartan is like comparing Chevrolet to BMW. They target completely different markets, with both doing what they are designed for extremely well. If you want a mid-40 foot cruiser, and money is not an issue, by all means look seriously at the T4400. However, if you need as much bang for your buck as possible, you get a lot of boat for your money with the 45CC.
I've owned a Hunter 27 and currently own a Hunter 326. I sail mine around San Diego and the coastline. They are perfect for what they are designed to do. They are a lot of fun and are not made for crossing oceans. The 38 can accommodate many friends for an afternoon sail. My boats are a lot of fun and have given my wife and I much pleasure.
"quality from Hunter" ??? Wow... Not kidding around or being a jerk but Hunter is at the TOP of my list of brands of sailboat to NEVER bluewater sail on no matter what - FOR MY SAFETY. What junk. I have my eyes set on a Sabre.
Although the Hunter 38 has a CE rating of "A" (Category A - Ocean: Designed for extended voyages where conditions may exceed wind force 8 (Beaufort scale) and significant wave heights of 4m and above but excluding abnormal conditions, and vessels largely self-sufficient.), nowhere in the review do we call the 38 a "bluewater" boat. We used to have a similar opinion on Hunter products, but we have been duly impressed with their deliberate and considerable strides in quality.
I'll check out a hunter at the next boat show but I still would not cross an ocean in them. You and I both KNOW FOR A FACT that a rating of a boat and what the boat is really able to do/withstand can be two very different things. Also, any monohull can easily be rolled by a wave on beam of 1/3 their length - 4m is about right for a 38, nothing impressive.
Awesome video that really highlights this amazing vessel. I love seeing my old "stomping grounds" back in Ft. Lauderdale. The 17th street causeway looks new and I see Pier 66 is still standing. The end of the video looks like heading North in the ICW from 17th street near LYC. (My old club.) Great video. If you are looking for a great boat...this is it!
Ill admit im a novice, but I get the feeling that the people who dislike it are the same people who will tell a person to buy a nikon over a canon, or an Apple over a PC (its not that i hate apple, I just think the users are inhuman monsters), I have found the layouts make so much more sense than anything else I've been on. Since I've seen these, it seems as though most sail boat layouts were designed by people who enjoy living in a dog kennels by comparison.
therabbitrevolution 8 months ago
Im no sailor however I have completed basic courses,,my only experience is on this 38,,its rookie proof as advertised. 2 weekends of classes with maybe 4 hours of sailing experience and this boat is a dream for the chesapeak bay
kbryon 2 years ago
To anyone looking at this or any other boat: Make sure you assess a boat based on what it is intended to do. Coastal cruiser or blue water passagemaker? High end semi-custom quality, or mass production? These are big differences. Do your own research, and be wary of opinions on the internet - including ours! If you really want to know about a particular boat talk to people that own or sail that specific boat. Other than conducting your own test sail, that's your best source of information.
lunarcod 2 years ago 3
It would likely be the last choice on my list for a blue water crossing. While I haven't sailed the 38, I have sailed the 33 and 36. It's a very pretty looking boat, both inside and out. That certainly doesn't mean it sails well though... Easy for solo sailing. However, try to sail this thing in a strong wind on upwind tack, or very close haul, and you'll quickly see why many don't care for this boat. It's like a brick with a sail attached, and a toothpick for a rudder!
PatrickBrass 2 years ago
@PatrickBrass Whether you like or dislike Hunters, the 38 is a very popular model for coastal cruisers who are looking for a comfortable boat with good performance. To say it's like a brick with a sail/toothpick rudder shows you are uninformed. Glen Henderson-designed hulls have very good performance characteristics and employ balanced spade rudders. John Kretschmer was quite impressed with the 38's sailing ability. His informed and experienced opinion matters much more.
lunarcod 2 years ago
I think if you actually sailed this boat, your opinion might actually be closer to mine than Kretschmer's. Has he ever given less than a positive review on any boat? While I'm not a professional boat reviewer, or sailor for that matter, it has been a hobby of mine for the better part of the last 33 years. I currently belong to a west coast sailing club, and have logged over 1000 miles in the last 1.5 years in '08/9 Hunter 33 &36 in good AND bad weather.
PatrickBrass 2 years ago
Your credentials are impressive. However, I HAVE sailed the boat, and for what it is designed to do it does it very well. It is a coastal cruiser with spacious accommodations, built to a price point. It is not, for example, a Valiant. So why you brought up crossing an ocean in one does not make sense. And though John Kretschmer is a professional sailor (with more than 250,000 documented miles at sea), his opinions were developed on the spot while actually sailing the boat.
lunarcod 2 years ago
Hey everyone. ive been recently considering purchasing a sailboat and ive herd mixed reviews. a lot of people are saying Hunter 50s are not good for open water, does anyone care to enlighten me on some facts why? it seems to be a really nice boat and for a good price with some great features like the in mast sail, something that i really like and seems easy to single hand, another plus. im mostly looking for a cruzer boat but would like it to be able to sail around the world if i so choose. help
shifttradition 2 years ago
You will receive a HUGE range of reactions with this question. I've been in the industry for many years, and Hunter evokes more negatitvity than any other builder, but at the same time sells more sailboats than anyone. To answer your question directly, I know a man (semi-paraplegic) that singlehanded his Hunter 49 around the world. He'll tell you the boat was wonderful. Ask the next person, and they will tell you they'd never venture out of the bay on one... My advice? Ask Hunter 50 owners.
lunarcod 2 years ago
Thank you very much. i guess my next step is to find a Hunter bulletin and talk with some owners. Thanks again.
shifttradition 2 years ago
People question the rigging of hunter due the lack of a back stay. I sail on the great lakes. i have sailed on the hunter 38. Lets say i am addicted. Hunter are good boats. but tartans sabre are way better
JEEP5599 2 years ago
It's a great boat for what it is intended. Really nice layout and probably a very comfortable and luxurious liveaboard.
arakitai 2 years ago
Comment removed
DOCCAREY 4 years ago
I answered DOC's questions in a message reply, but thought I'd post the general theme here as well. Comparing Hunter to Tartan is like comparing Chevrolet to BMW. They target completely different markets, with both doing what they are designed for extremely well. If you want a mid-40 foot cruiser, and money is not an issue, by all means look seriously at the T4400. However, if you need as much bang for your buck as possible, you get a lot of boat for your money with the 45CC.
lunarcod 3 years ago
I've owned a Hunter 27 and currently own a Hunter 326. I sail mine around San Diego and the coastline. They are perfect for what they are designed to do. They are a lot of fun and are not made for crossing oceans. The 38 can accommodate many friends for an afternoon sail. My boats are a lot of fun and have given my wife and I much pleasure.
wind2058 4 years ago
Is Glen Henderson blind?
paulshocker 4 years ago
best galley? for what? use at anchor/dock/moor?
ProductionDesignrMAX 4 years ago
"quality from Hunter" ??? Wow... Not kidding around or being a jerk but Hunter is at the TOP of my list of brands of sailboat to NEVER bluewater sail on no matter what - FOR MY SAFETY. What junk. I have my eyes set on a Sabre.
ProductionDesignrMAX 4 years ago
Although the Hunter 38 has a CE rating of "A" (Category A - Ocean: Designed for extended voyages where conditions may exceed wind force 8 (Beaufort scale) and significant wave heights of 4m and above but excluding abnormal conditions, and vessels largely self-sufficient.), nowhere in the review do we call the 38 a "bluewater" boat. We used to have a similar opinion on Hunter products, but we have been duly impressed with their deliberate and considerable strides in quality.
lunarcod 4 years ago
I'll check out a hunter at the next boat show but I still would not cross an ocean in them. You and I both KNOW FOR A FACT that a rating of a boat and what the boat is really able to do/withstand can be two very different things. Also, any monohull can easily be rolled by a wave on beam of 1/3 their length - 4m is about right for a 38, nothing impressive.
ProductionDesignrMAX 4 years ago
Awesome video that really highlights this amazing vessel. I love seeing my old "stomping grounds" back in Ft. Lauderdale. The 17th street causeway looks new and I see Pier 66 is still standing. The end of the video looks like heading North in the ICW from 17th street near LYC. (My old club.) Great video. If you are looking for a great boat...this is it!
FireSarge30 5 years ago